“Are you sure you won’t come down and introduce yourself to the staff? It’ll be good for you,” Druscilla said to Penelope. They were in the spacious attic of the Clearwater Manor.

“I’m fine, thank you.” Penelope had taken her transformation rough. She had not fed since they left the latter Terry atop the Bell Tower.

“If something is bothering you, then you should tell me. We’re in this together.”

Penelope sat up from where she was lounging on the hammock. “I want to go home, Dru.”

I thought as much. “Do you think you will be able to live among them in your current situation?”

“I’ll think of something…”

“You don’t sound too sure of yourself. As a Vampire, you’ll need to feed – and if you don’t, you’ll lash out and kill someone.”

“So you’re saying I can’t go.”

“You’re free to do whatever you want, Pen.”

“Why did you have to turn me into…this?”

“I did it for your sake; you’d be dead if I hadn’t turned you. Everything I do, I do for the both of us. When Kissyface and Knifey come in a few days we’ll have the means to not want for anything anymore. Can you imagine that? A life with no worries. After we entrench ourselves more, you might even invite your family over. Build them a magnificent mansion like this one.”

Penelope’s eyes widened. “That sounds…nice.”

“It does; so can I count on you?”

“Any time, Dru.”

“Great. I was thinking we should visit Hanes; have him make some clothes for our courtly debut.”

“ ’Our’? What do you mean ‘our’?”

“You don’t want to come? Why not?”

“I’d never fit in – but you’re practically made for this.”

“Fine, I won’t force you.” Druscilla turned to leave.

“Wait, I’ve been meaning to ask you about Morrigan. I overheard your conversation. I have so many questions… Ireland, Erythrean Seastead what are those? And what did you mean when you said that you two are like? Did you know her before?”

“I suppose it can’t hurt to tell you, but tell no one else. Ireland is a country, the Erythrean Seastead is a big city in the Middle of the Indian Ocean; and I was mistaken when I said she was like me – you were there, you saw how unreasonable she was.”

“Wait, hold on, I have more questions.”

“I’m running late; that’s all you’re getting from me bye.” Druscilla shut the door behind her and left.

I hope her curiosity doesn’t blossom into a problem. I need to come up with some plausible backstory in this World. The servants in the house avoided her as she walked by. Clementine had introduced her as a very distant relative, which was technically true all things considered.

Druscilla had asked for a carriage to take her to Hanes, the only tailor she knew. Outside, the suns were mercilessly shining down from the blue sky. Being spotted out and about during the day would do well for her cover, instead of skulking about only at night. Despite donning the white cloak Druscilla still felt an uncomfortable dread in the pit of her stomach – her survival instincts telling her to get out of the light. It was also as uncomfortable as sitting in an oven. Druscilla’s body did not sweat, so she was baking in the heat. The breeze from outside the windows barely alleviated her discomfort.

As the carriage glided along the streets Druscilla tried distracting herself by taking in her environment. It struck her that the city had no foul smell. Oh yeah, I saw a sewer the other day. In her previous world, sewers had come several centuries after the reigns of kings. The streets of Ginawaine were also remarkably clean, even by modern standards. Ah, maybe it’s because I’m on the ‘good’ side of town. The defining characteristic of the city, however, were the colours. Druscilla took a moment to appreciate the fact that no two buildings were the same colour and those that were had differences in shading. It gave the place a Candy-land feel.

Druscilla understood that she understood little of this world, even after just over two months in this strange land.

The carriage pulled up outside Hanes’ place. She was extremely grateful for the relief the cool interior offered. She was met by the man himself and his assistant. “Welcome back, Miss Druscilla. How may we be of service today?”

“Well hello. I’m going to have my Debut next week as a benefactor of Clementine Clearwater. I would like you to make a gown suitable for the event. Spare no expenses.”

Hanes took out a notebook and used a stick of graphite to scribble something. “Do you have any special requests, Miss?”

“You know what I like, so a bit more of that please.”

“I see. Lucy here will take your measurements.”

“I’m in your care.”

“Oh, and before I forget, your sister came looking for you.”

“My sister?”

“She said her name was Desmona, and she said you were siblings. Do you not know her?”

“Must’ve slipped my mind. What did she look like?”

“A rather attractive young lady, tall, with dark hair and grey eyes.”

Druscilla did not know anyone by that description. “I’ll keep an eye out for her.”

After her measurements were taken, Druscilla left the place in an ambivalent mood. She was still giddy at the idea of attending fancy balls and dinners in high society next week, but she was also nervous at the prospect of meeting her ‘sister’. If Desmona turned out like Morrigan then that would be a serious problem.

She was about to enter the carriage when somebody caught her sleeve. It was a figure in a black cloak, much like Druscilla’s. It seemed they shared a taste in tailors. “Are you Desmona?”

“I am.”

Druscilla tensed up, bending her knees slightly to prepare for a deadly lunge. “Are you looking for a fight?”

“Peace, I don’t want to fight, I would not win. Let’s talk out of the sunslight.”

“Hop in, but I’ve got my eyes on you.”

They went in and sat opposite each other in the carriage. Druscilla gave the driver the signal to go, and they were off. It was once again, unbearably hot.

Desmona broke the silence. “I’ve been following you for almost a week.”

“I didn’t know I had a secret admirer.”

“If you have one, it’s not me. You’ve been making waves; tracking you was a piece of cake. You’re way too careless – using your powers willy-nilly and not covering up your tracks. Do you know the danger you’re in?”

“Don’t speak to me with that tone; you’re not my mother.”

“I might as well be, considering how dumb you’ve acted. It’s a wonder you’ve survived this long. First, you gruesomely murdered Jared, now the entire Southwest Boshamia knows you exist. Then you kidnap Penelope Poulsen – is she even still alive? No matter. Then I come here to the city and I detect the mind control on the tailor from as far as the city gates. And even before that, when I was travelling the roads there were rumours of witches and attacks in the city. Are you trying to announce your presence to the world?”

“I didn’t kidnap Penelope, she came willingly.”

“Oh please, if she’s still alive take me to her that I might try to conceal your mind control as I did with Hanes and Lucy.”

“Why would I do that? We just met, and I don’t like you or trust you.”

“Like me? Do you think I care about your approval? Please, don’t make me laugh. It is clear you are in dire need of my guidance seeing as you can’t find your way on your own.”

“I think you better leave,” Druscilla said in a low voice. “Before I rip your throat out.”

Desmona flinched at those words. She straightened up in her seat and said, “Druscilla, there is a war raging. You and I are soldiers in this war. Just like any war, there are two sides to the conflict. We are being hunted by angels. I saw them with my own eyes and barely survived the encounter.” She sighed. “Look, I might’ve let my frustrations with you get the better of me – I apologize. But the fact remains: you’ve been exceedingly careless. If I can track you down, so could they. We need to work together to fight them off. With your help, we can push them back.”

“So in short, you’re asking me to become your crony.”

“No, I never said that, it would be more of a partnership.”

“A partnership where you tell me exactly what to do, and when to do it, right? If that’s the case then feel free to fuck right off.” Druscilla poked her head out and told the driver to stop. The carriage came to a stop on the side of the road. “Get out. I’m not interested in what you have to offer.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Everything I do, I’m doing for myself. So don’t rope me into your spirit war bullshit. All that’s got nothing to do with me. So get out and leave me alone.”

“The angels won’t care that you’re not part of the fighting – they’ll hunt you down either way.”

“If the angels come, my Vampires and I will deal with them.”

“Your hubris will be the death of you.”

“At least I’m not a coward, unlike you. Neither am I weak, unlike you.”

“You don’t know me. I am neither of those things.”

“I can sense your strength; you’re not much stronger than the average human.”

“But I am much more magically adept than you.”

“And how did that go with the angels? Seems to me you ran like a bitch.”

Desmona was silent.

Looks like I hit the nail on the head. “You know what I think Desmona? I think you’re looking for someone to protect you, maybe do your bidding while you’re safe out of harm’s way. If that’s what you’re looking for, then I’m afraid I’m the wrong girl for the job.”

There was a tense silence. Druscilla was planning to throw Desmona out when she spoke: “I woke up in the body of a Succubus. Dream magic and mind control magic are my specialities. I’m not nearly as strong as you – I learned that early on. I met another one of our sisters called Ellen – a Harpy – a few days after I woke up. This was across the sea to the west. We spent the days in the desert learning about our abilities until it attacked us. My magic could do nothing against it, and Ellen died while I flew away. So you’re right, I am looking for protection. I’m scared. I don’t want to die again. We started on the wrong foot, I’m sorry. Please just let me stay with you.”

“Well, I suppose you could be useful in erasing my tracks.”

“Yes, I can do that. However I maintain that angels are our biggest concern, we should prepare to against them.”

“I want to found a coven of Vampires here in the city, and then infest the structures of government to reshape the setting to my desires. Given that Penelope is stronger than you, I think angels wouldn’t be a problem.”

“I will aid you in this.”

“But first, you should know I’m not interested in a 50/50 partnership. If you’re going to stay with me I’ll be your boss.”

Desmona gritted her teeth. “Fine, I accept your terms.”

“Excellent! Welcome to Venice.”

“Venice…?”

“It’s the name of the Merchant’s Guild I’m founding and technically the name is Venexia.”

“You’re starting a bank?”

Druscilla told the driver to resume their journey. “Yep, I named it after the prominent Merchant Republics of Renaissance Italy. It was either that or Florence. So let me tell you all about it…”